Ehrlich on Washington column, August 23, 1999

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Lutherville, Maryland 21093 Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of August 23, 1 999 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich Honoring Our Hometown Heroes It was fifty-five years ago, yet many still remember like it was just yesterday; others rely on stories and movies to portray the struggles during that time. On Wednesday, August 11, however, over 100 people of all generations joined together at the World War II Memorial in Annapolis. We gathered to honor World War II veterans with the Jubilee of Liberty medal in recognition of these soldiers’ valor on the beaches at Normandy. On June 6, 1944, the greatest seaborne invasion the world had ever seen began when American soldiers of Operation Overlord stormed the beaches of Normandy. For 87 days- from June 6, 1 944 to August 31,1 944— these brave men, including many Marylanders, fought and died in order to expel the Nazi occupiers and liberate Europe. When it was over, the beaches of France were secure and the push to Paris and Berlin was well underway. When it was over, however, many American soldiers were lost- having paid the ultimate sacrifice, and others who had risked their lives would be forever changed. On the 50lh Anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, the Regional Council of Normandy presented medals to veterans to commemorate D-Day. Many returned to the land where they valiantly fought to restore freedom in order to receive this award. Not all Maryland veterans of Operation Overlord, however, were able to travel to Europe and participate in those celebrations in 1994. On August 1 1, we honored some of our Marylanders- our hometown heroes- who had